Using an 'artsy' stamp set.
I used several stamp sets to include an 'artsy' chameleon-themed set I bought from my local Dollar Tree.
NOTE: While the pages are like those who setup their Bullet Journals (BuJo), I use this journal more as a memory keeper/diary. The BuJo-inspired pages encourage me to make note of the good things in life, even on the worst days.
In case it's helpful, below are the topics covered in this post:
Calendar Overview Pages
The calendar overview is where I note important dates I want to document in my journal.
The larger calendar fills much of both pages. I note events such as birthdays, appointments, and holidays within the appropriate block that represents a day in the month. During the month, I will make a short note of something that happened.
On the right, I will note the best and worst things to happen during the month. While I write a line of text highlighting one good thing about that day on my highlights page, I believed it was important to document the bade things as well. It will allow me to reflect on the past and press on with the future.
I also have a mini calendar for next month and another box where I'll note next month's events coming soon. I like being able to visually see ahead to things I may need to be aware of before those days come.
Productivity-related notes like to-do lists are managed in a separate and more simplistic Bullet Journal.
As I did for my July 2023 Journal Design, I drew inspiration from an 'artsy' chameleon stamp set bought from my local Dollar Tree. I have been quite busy lately and found that using stamps to decorate my pages saves me time.
I used watercolor paints to add color to the images and pages. I wished I used markers to same me more time, but it was still fun to use paints that I love.
Unfortunately, my color choices did not allow the images to stand out. I used a white gel pen to add highlights, but it does not show well on camera or in-person. Instead of using all colors of the rainbow, I should have limited my color palette and focused more on contrast (for example, a light colored paint palette under a dark and vibrant colored chameleon).
While this is not one of my favorite journal designs, it was fun to do. I especially enjoyed splattering paint on the pages. It was chaotic goodness!
Hobbies and Dogs' Pages
This month, my hobbies & dogs are tracked across a two-page spread. While many journal enthusiasts track their habits, tracking my favorite hobbies reminds me to dedicate time for myself and happiness. The hobbies I track are:
arts + crafts,
writing, and
gaming.
For my dogs, I track the following:
when they go for a joy ride,
when they go for a good walk,
when I've cared for their coat with a brush, leave-in shampoo, or bath,
when they received teeth care with brush chews or teeth brushing, and
when they get to relax with a picnic in the park.
I especially wanted to track my new puppy's training progress. The layout design changed again as I try to figure out the most convenient way to track training. I will likely continue to do so for several more months.
I got rid of the notes box I used to include on the right page. I wanted more room to track my puppy's training. I figured I could note any concerns or interesting tidbits related to my dogs on the overview pages.
Highlights and Mood Pages
Every night, I write a line of text highlighting one good thing about that day on my highlights page (left). I will write about a simple thing that made me happy.
Even on the worst days, I try to think about a highlight of that day to write down. This page is intentionally left blank since I will fill it in throughout the month.
I treat my mood tracker page (right) as a coloring page of sorts. Each night, I will color-in a part of an image (or shape) that represents my overall mood for that day: awesome, meh/OK, sick, or bad/sad.
For August, I will color-in part of a brush or roller that typically holds paint. I am hopeful it will showcase my overall mood for each day in a colorful and fun way by the end of the month!
What's Next?
If you are struggling to decide on a design theme for your journal, consider using stamp sets to fill your pages!
Have you set up your journal design? Comment below to share what theme you went with and what materials you used to create it.
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Thanks, and have a great day!
Simply Jelly Jam
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